As many of you will know, Jon Egging was killed in an accident whilst he was a display pilot on the Red Arrows. His wife Emma set up the Jon Egging Trust in his name to help underprivileged young people.

Jon and I served on the Harrier together and so I have tried to raise money for the charity from its beginnings. It is, however, since I have  become more involved with it and seen what some of the young people that benefit from being part of it can achieve, that has spurred me further to try and help in any way I can.

This year I am going to attempt to join the 'Club des Cingles du Mont Ventoux'. The Mt Ventoux is a 6,273ft mountain in the south east of France with only 3 main routes up it. You can only gain membership to the Club if you manage to climb the Ventoux on your bicycle by each of the 3 routes in a single day. I have climbed the mountain before, but only once in a day and that was pretty tough going. The rough translation of Club des Cingles is Club of Madmen, and for good reason!

So, in the knowledge that my challenge is going to take many hours of training and then 7 to 8 hours of climbing on gradients between 5 and 14% with no respite, please give as generously as you can to help this brilliant cause! None of the money you donate is going towards travel or equipment, I am going to make my own way out and back and use my own kit, so every penny you give will go to the charity.

Thanks in advance for your support,

Dunc